Firm will fight dog mess war

PLANS to use a private security firm to tackle a county’s dog mess menace have been passed.

Conwy County Borough Council’s cabinet this week gave it’s approval to plans to hand security company Xfor responsibility for tackling dog mess and litter.

The authority has agreed to enter a 12 month trial scheme with Xfor, who for the next year will take responsibility for issuing fixed penalty notices to tackle litter and dog fouling.

Xfor will now target a number of problem areas in the county, which have been identified via complaints made by the public, with £75 penalty notices issued to those who flout littering and dog fouling orders. £45 of the fines will be paid to the security company to cover costs and profit, and £30 retained by Conwy Council.

Conwy’s cabinet has also banned the release of balloons and chinese lanterns on council land in a bid to tackle littering and environmental damage.

A report on the issue detailed how both foil and latex balloons made a negative impact on the environment, with a number of environmental and countryside groups, including the Marine Conservation Society, the TSPCA, the Tidy Britain Group and the National Farmers Union, against their release.